Generator (alternator) belt removal procedure

Tags: #alternator · #price · #part-number · #conflict

To access and adjust the generator (alternator) belt tensioner and remove the belt, the front wheel and wheel-arch liner/fender guard must be removed — belt removal cannot be accomplished without this access. Multiple community members confirm this is the standard procedure for the X80.¹²

Replacement interval — inspect, don't just calendar-replace. Recommendations vary: some sources online suggest replacing at 70,000+ km per manufacturer interval to preserve warranty, while experienced owners recommend inspecting the belt for visible wear/cracking instead of blind calendar replacement. One owner at 100,000 km had the belt inspected by a mechanic and it was confirmed to still be in good condition, with the mechanic recommending against replacement. Visual inspection is considered more reliable than mileage alone.³⁴⁵⁶⁷

Belt and roller part numbers. Serpentine (drive) belt part number: 5DA015909. Tensioner pulley (натяжитель/натяжной ролик): 5CA015980. The idler/bypass pulley (обводной ролик) is also sold separately. Recommendation: replace the belt and both pulleys together as a set. Prices vary significantly between retailers — some bundle at a higher cost, while individual parts can be found cheaper on other platforms.^8910111213

Belt length — manual spec vs. practical experience (2025-10 reports). The manual specifies a 6PK2260 belt, but owners report this exact length is very difficult to install. Multiple lengths were tested by the community: 2260 (per manual, very difficult), 2263 (extremely difficult — installation may require crankshaft rotation or special techniques, or cutting the old belt off), 2275 (fits with some difficulty but works reliably — reported as +2–3 mm longer than 2260), plus less-common reports of 2277, 2271, and 2270. Net community conclusion: despite the manual calling for 2260, 2275 is the length that works better in practice.^{14151617181920212223}

Installation procedure and challenges (2025-10 reports). Without a service pit, tension the roller by placing a wrench on the roller bolt and pulling it toward the rear of the vehicle, then fit the belt. A common trick for stubborn fits: press the belt against the crankshaft pulley and rotate the engine by hand using a socket wrench on the crankshaft bolt. Access is easier with the right front wheel removed and the plastic wheel-arch liner taken off. Warning: a belt that sits skewed on the pulleys (not properly centered) will cut/shear over time — verify correct tracking before finishing the job. Removing a stuck belt sometimes requires cutting it or using special tools.^{24252627282930313233343536373839404142434445}

Real-world install at 120,000 km. One owner (Vova) replaced the serpentine belt at 120,000 km: the manual-spec 2260 would not fit, so he used 2275 instead. After 10,000 km on the 2275 belt, it was working properly with no issues.^{464748495051525354}

Belt brand/pricing data points (2025-10). Dongil 6PK2263: ~850 RUB (RU market, Oct 2025), but installation difficulty is extreme (per the length notes above); also seen at 1,160 RUB at Auto-Doc, and 1,400 RUB for the Daico brand. Dongil 6PK2275 is separately recommended after several successful installs, available on Ozon.^555657212223 Quality caution: one owner reported durability concerns with a JD-brand 6PK2275 belt purchase — in the same period, that owner's lower front control-arm (left) bushings and ball joint failed at only 30,000 km, and stabilizer-bar links failed at 15,000 km, describing overall poor durability from that supplier batch.⁵⁶

Mileage-based belt/pulley inspection (2025-10/11 reports). At around 300,000 km, one owner's serpentine belt was still holding up and only the tensioner/idler pulley (~36,000 RUB, RU market, Oct 2025) and the alternator needed replacement (cost not specified, October 2025). Belt tension should visually sit centered on the tensioner's reference marks — check all rollers and tension settings whenever replacing the belt. A separate owner replaced the belt at ~280,000 km due to noise; the replacement belt was of a different type/construction than the original, possibly reflecting a local sourcing/quality issue rather than a design problem.⁵⁸⁵⁹⁶⁰

Media

Photo of the correct serpentine belt type/length for reference

Belt wear pattern shown at 65,000 km

Belt tension and tensioner-pulley reference photo at high mileage

Related pages

• Drive belt part number — OEM vs. Mazda
• Drive belt kits and rollers — listings, prices
• Alternator replacement — part BM1118300
• Torch spark plugs — codes, listings, gap rules
• Exhaust flex tube (gofra) replacement

Sources

This page is compiled from 60 community messages. Every fact carries a numbered reference to its original author and message.

Last updated: 2026-10-29